"We have a female, mid-thirties, blunt force trauma to the head, in critical condition. Second female, mid-thirties, rib and lower leg fractures, stable. We're 10 minutes out."
"Can't you drive any faster?! Maura needs a doctor, NOW!"
"Ma'am I'm going to have to ask you to calm down. We're going as fast as we can."
"It's not good enough! Who knows what kind of damage she has from that head injury. Please, you have to get us to the hospital faster!"
Seconds later, Jane could feel a heaviness take over her body. "No, what are you doing? I don't need a sedative…" She blacked out seconds later.
Maura was rushed into emergency surgery the second they arrived at the hospital. Jane, still under sedation, had her wounds attended to. Her ribs were carefully wrapped and a cast was put on her broken lower left leg. The cut to her head, as she'd previously thought, had been minimal and only required a couple of stitches.
It didn't take Jane long to come out of sedation, and began asking for Maura the second she woke.
"Where is she? Where's Maura? Is she alright? Someone tell me she's ok!"
"Jane, sweetheart, she's in surgery. They won't tell us anything other than that; we're not family. Detective Frost has been trying to get in touch with her parents, but they're in Europe and won't be here for hours. You have to try to stay calm baby, you've been through a lot too!" Angela cried at her daughter.
"I can't be calm right now, ma! She was there because of me! I took her with me! If I hadn't gotten her in that car, none of this would've ever happened to her! I just need to know she's going to be ok. I did this to her… I did this to her!" Jane sobbed. "This is Massachusetts! Tell them I'm her wife! They'll have to give me information!"
"Jane…"
"No Ma, I don't care what you think, or what anyone else thinks. I'm not going to sit here and wait for her parents to arrive God knows when before we can get information. She could be dying! And we wouldn't know anything!"
"Ok baby, ok. I'll talk to the nurses."
Jane made to get out of her hospital bed, moving quickly for someone with so many broken bones. She quickly rose to a sitting position and took a deep breath before trying to stand.
"Jane! You can't get out of bed! The doctor said—"
"I don't care what the doctor said, ma. I'm not going to lay here while Maura fights for her life in some operating room. I want answers… and I'm going to get them, I don't care what I have to do!"
"Jane wait. Let me at least help you," Angela said. "Can you please wait here while I get you a wheelchair?"
Jane frowned and rolled her eyes, but acquiesced. Angela came back a few minutes later, wheeling a chair in front of her. She slowly helped her daughter climb into the chair before leaving the room and heading towards the nurses' station. Jane didn't hesitate in getting right to the point.
"I need information on Dr. Maura Isles, please." She threw in the 'please' last second because she figured it would help the cause.
"Your relationship to Dr. Isles?" the nurse asked.
"I'm her wife."
The nurse turned and looked Jane in the eye, then eyed her from head to toe. She didn't seem convinced, even with Jane's firm, unhesitating stare. After a few more seconds, the nurse's eyes softened slightly.
"Doctor Isles is in surgery at the moment. We don't have any additional information other than to say she was brought in critical condition. Initial examination showed a brain bleed and Dr. Shepherd is operating on her now."
"Do you know when I can get more information? Or perhaps an update from the doctor?"
"We will let you know as soon as we know anything ma'am. I will update Dr. Shepherd that Dr. Isles' family is now here so if there is an update to be had, we will notify you."
"Thank you."
Angela began to wheel Jane back to her room, but Jane refused, deciding instead to sit in the waiting room and wait for any news concerning Maura. The guilt was eating her alive… but it was more than that… her feelings went beyond guilt and worry. She felt as if every second without knowing of Maura was a second of not being able to breathe. Jane had felt it too… every step of the way. She was a detective; she knew the reaction she caused in Maura whenever she was near, and at first it scared her when she felt it too… but now it was too late for that. It was too late for flirting or pleasantries… she may never get to do that with Maura. She may never get to tell her just how sorry she is for having put her in that situation… she may never get the chance to tell Maura just how much she loves her.
Hours ticked by, with no word from the surgeon. It wasn't until nearly 6 hours later, with Jane collapsing in her chair, that Dr. Shepherd came out to deliver the news.
"Family of Dr. Maura Isles?" he asked.
"That's me!" Jane hurried her mother to wheel the chair over to meet Dr. Shepherd halfway.
"I'm Dr. Shepherd, I've just operated on your wife. It was a long surgery, and she was touch and go for most of the duration, but I'm happy to tell you that she is stable for now. She's going to be wheeled into the ICU for the remainder of the night and will be kept there for observation until I deem it otherwise."
"How bad was the damage, doctor?" Jane asked.
"She suffered major trauma to the head, with a brain bleed that was difficult to control. I had to do a blood transfusion and also insert a catheter to drain CSF fluid from the brain. I've had to do a craniectomy to allow the brain to swell. Once the swelling goes down, I will go back in and place the bone back. We've inserted it into her stomach for the time being."
"Oh my God! How can we even know if she's going to wake up?"
"Right now it's a matter of time. There's nothing to do but wait. Her brain is reacting nicely, so I'm optimistic that she will regain full consciousness."
"What are the risks with brain damage?"
"The risk with this type of injury is always there, but as I said, the brain is reacting as I expect it to. The swelling is going down slowly, but it's going down. Once Dr. Isles regains consciousness I will perform a thorough evaluation to see where she stands. I don't normally do this, assure a family member of something, but I can guarantee you, she's going to wake up. You just have to be patient. I'm heading into another surgery now but I will be paged if anything comes up."
"Thank you doctor. Can I see her?"
"We only allow one person it at a time in the ICU. I'll have a nurse take you to her now. I wish you a speedy recovery as well."
"Thank you again, doctor."
The nurse from before came and wheeled Jane towards the ICU. She gave Jane a knowing look, but didn't say anything. She quietly wheeled Jane into Maura's room and silently made her way out, letting Jane know to page someone if anything was needed.
Maura looked so fragile and broken on the bed. A large bandage covered her head and she was covered in tubes. Jane recognized a breathing tube and wondered why it was necessary that Maura have one… could she really not breathe on her own? Casts covered her right arm and leg. She couldn't see the damage done to the abdominal area because she was covered by the sheets and didn't want to disturb her.
"My God, Maura. Look at you." Jane stated, tears filling her eyes. She wheeled herself closer to Maura and grabbed a hold of her left hand. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen to you. If I could turn back time, or trade places with you, I would. I just want you to be ok Maur. Please God, let her be ok… there's so much I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. And I want you to wake up so that I can tell you Maura… I want you to be alert and awake so I can tell you how much you mean to me, and how much I love you. Please sweetheart, you have to wake up. The doctor said you did well in surgery, so just rest for now, my love. Gather your strength so that you can come back to me."
Jane kissed Maura's hand and rested her head on the bed beside her, welcoming sleep.
What do you think? Will Maura be ok once she wakes?
